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Celiac disease leads to changes in diets

About 1 in 133 Americans have celiac disease, which may explain why we've been hearing so much about gluten-free diets.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and keeps it from absorbing parts of food that it needs to stay healthy. The culprit is a reaction to gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, barley and some oats.

“I think a lot more people have been diagnosed with it because they're more aware of it,” said Ansleigh Mills, a registered dietitian at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas. “I think more people are seeing their doctors about it.”

People with celiac disease will normally suffer abdominal pain, including diarrhea, nausea and fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. Because celiac disease keeps the body from absorbing important nutrients, the long-term effects can be much more serious, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and intestinal cancer, according to Pubmed Health.

There is no cure for celiac disease. However, the disease can be controlled with a gluten-free diet, which will also restore the villi, areas in the intestinal lining that help absorb nutrients.

The bad news about a gluten-free diet is that it must be maintained all your life. While it may be frustrating to stay clear of products that contain gluten initially, alternative products are available. For instance, there are other flours besides wheat.

“They can eat other flour like rice and corn and potato,” Mills noted.

According to the Mayo Clinic, many foods are naturally gluten-free, including beans, fruits and vegetables, fresh meat, eggs and most dairy products. There are other products that have been developed to be gluten-free, including pasta, bread and even beer. However, the list of products that contain gluten is daunting, so it will probably take some time before a person on a gluten-free diet will become adept at finding the right products.

Although Mills said a gluten-free diet wouldn't hurt anyone who doesn't have celiac disease, gluten isn't unhealthy.

“We recommend people eat whole wheats,” she said.

Likewise, just because a food is gluten-free doesn't necessarily mean it is healthy.

“There are unhealthy foods without gluten,” Mills said.

The symptoms of celiac disease are not unlike other diseases, Mills said, and they may vary from person to person. For instance, one person may have constipation, another diarrhea while a third may have no trouble at all with stools. For that reason, she said, a person should consult a doctor if they suspect they have celiac disease.

<b>Celiac diet</b>

These popular foods should be avoided unless they're marked gluten-free, according to the Mayo Clinic:

Beer

Breads

Cakes and pies

Candies

Cereal

Cookies

Croutons

French fries

Gravies

Imitation meat and seafood

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